The first woman to earn the PhD degree in psychology was
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Margaret Floy Washburn (1871-1939)Margaret Floy Washburn was an early 20th century psychologist who conducted extensive research on animal behavior and motor development. She was the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Show
Professional LifeMargaret Floy Washburn was born in New York City on July 25, 1871. She began college at the age of 16 and soon became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. When she graduated from Vassar in 1891, she wanted to study at Columbia University. At that time, women weren't generally permitted in graduate programs; Washburn was permitted to sit in on classes at Columbia as an observer. She went on to attend the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell to work with experimental psychologist E.B. Titchener, who founded the theory of psychological structuralism. Washburn was responsible for all experiments and research. She earned her master’s degree in 1893, and one year later, she made history as the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. She spent six years teaching psychology, ethics, and philosophy at Wells College for women, two years as warden at Sage College for women, and one year leading the psychology department at the University of Cincinnati. Ultimately, Washburn returned to Vassar in 1903 as an associate professor in psychology. She advanced to professor of psychology in 1908, and she remained there until a stroke necessitated her retirement in 1937. Washburn was active in the American Psychological Association, and she served as president for the association in 1921. She was also a member of the National Research Council and the second woman to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Washburn died in 1939. Contribution to PsychologyAs one of the earliest women to enter the field of psychology, Washburn served as evidence that women could effectively contribute to the field. She extensively studied animal behavior and argued that animals' mental states should be studied alongside their behavior. She outlined these arguments in her 1908 book, The Animal Mind. The book was widely popular and heavily researched, outlining numerous experiments in animal psychology, consciousness, and behavior. Unlike some of her contemporaries, who focused primarily on rodents, Washburn examined the behavior of over 100 different animal species. Washburn was interested in learning how mental states could be revealed through visible behaviors, and this led to intensive study of motor development. She argued that conscious thought was evident in behavior; in other words, all mental functions produce physical reactions. Her book Movement and Mental Imagery introduced her theory regarding the correlation between mental processes and motor skills. Similarly, Washburn believed that psychology should include the study of behavior and consciousness—a radical notion that blended two popular schools of thought on psychology at the time: introspectionism and behaviorism. She wrote more than a hundred scholarly articles on topics including memory, experimental psychology, animal behavior and psychology, consciousness, spatial reasoning, and individual differences in behavior. Unlike many psychologists of her time, Washburn rejected much of psychodynamic theory, arguing that it was too speculative. Instead, she embraced elements of functionalism, Gestalt psychology, and behaviorism, though her work in animal cognition undermined some tenets of traditional behaviorism. Quote by Margaret Floy Washburn Last Update: 07-06-2015 Psychology has long placed an emphasis on the contributions of male psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, John B. Watson, and
other thinkers. Unfortunately, the important contributions of female psychologists are often overlooked in psychology textbooks. There were many women in psychology, however, who made critical contributions and helped shape the development of the field of psychology. While studying the early history of psychology, you might find yourself wondering if all the early psychologists were men. The dominance of male thinkers on lists of important pioneers in early psychology certainly makes it seem that way, but the reality is that women have been contributing to psychology since its earliest days. Estimates suggest that in the early 1900s, roughly 12% of psychologists in the United States were women. However, many of these pioneering women in psychology faced considerable discrimination, obstacles, and difficulties. Many were not allowed to study with men, were denied degrees they had rightfully earned, or found it difficult to secure academic positions that would allow them to research and publish. Women have made many important
and groundbreaking contributions to the field of psychology, often despite facing considerable discrimination due to their sex. These women deserve to be recognized for their pioneering work. The following are just a few of the women who helped shape psychology. 1 When most people hear
the name Freud, Sigmund is probably the first name that comes to mind. However, the famous psychoanalyst's daughter Anna Freud was a well-known and influential psychologist in her own right. Anna Freud not only expanded upon her father's ideas, but she also helped develop the
field of child psychotherapy and influenced other thinkers such as Erik Erikson. Among her many accomplishments are introducing the concept of
defense mechanisms and expanding interest in the field of child psychology. 2 Mary Whiton CalkinsMary Whiton Calkins studied at Harvard, although she was never given approval for formal admission. She studied with some of the most eminent thinkers of the time, including William James and Hugo Munsterberg, and completed all of the requirements for a doctorate. Despite this, Harvard refused to grant her a degree on the grounds that she was a woman. Regardless, Calkins went on to become the first female president of the American Psychological Association. During her career, she wrote over a hundred professional papers on psychology topics, developed the paired-association technique, and became known for her work in the area of self-psychology. While Harvard may have refused to grant her the degree she rightfully earned, that didn't stop Calkins from becoming an influential psychologist. Major Accomplishments
3 Mary AinsworthMary Ainsworth was an important developmental psychologist. Her work demonstrated the importance of healthy childhood attachments, and she pioneered the use of a technique known as the "Strange Situation" assessment. In her research on mother-child attachments and interactions, Ainsworth would have a mother and a child sit in an unfamiliar room. Researchers would then observe the child's reactions to various situations including a stranger entering the room, being left alone with the stranger, and the mother's return to the room. Ainsworth's groundbreaking work had a major influence on our understanding of attachment styles and how these styles contribute to behavior later in life. Major Accomplishments
4 Leta Stetter HollingworthLeta Stetter Hollingworth was an early pioneer of psychology in the United States. She studied with Edward Thorndike and made a name for herself for her research on intelligence and gifted children. Another of her important contributions was her research on the psychology of women. The prevailing opinion at the time was that women were both intellectually inferior to men and essentially semi-invalid when they were menstruating. Hollingworth challenged these assumptions, and her research demonstrated that women were as intelligent and capable as men were, no matter what time of the month it was. Her many accomplishments are perhaps even more remarkable considering the fact that she not only faced considerable obstacles due to gender discrimination, but she also died at the age of 53. Despite a life cut short, her influence and contributions to the field of psychology were impressive. Major Accomplishments
5 Karen HorneyKaren Horney was an influential neo-Freudian psychologist known for her take on feminine psychology. When Sigmund Freud famously proposed that women experience "penis envy," Horney countered that men suffer from "womb envy" and that all of their actions are driven by a need to overcompensate for the fact that they cannot bear children. Her outspoken refutation of Freud's ideas helped draw greater attention to the psychology of women. Her theory of neurotic needs and her belief that people were capable of taking a personal role in their own mental health were among her many contributions to the field of psychology. Major Accomplishments
6 Melanie KleinPlay therapy is a commonly used technique to help children express their feelings and experiences in a natural and helpful way. Widely used today, a psychoanalyst named Melanie Klein played a pivotal role in developing this technique. Through her work with children, she observed that children often utilize play as one of their primary means of communication. Since young children are not capable of some of the more commonly used Freudian techniques such as free association, Klein began to utilize play therapy as a way to investigate children's unconscious feelings, anxieties, and experiences. Klein's work led to a major disagreement with Anna Freud, who believed that younger children could not be psychoanalyzed. Klein suggested that analyzing a child's actions during play allowed the therapist to explore how various anxieties impact the development of the ego and the superego. Today, Kleinian psychoanalysis is considered to be one of the major schools of thought within the field of psychoanalysis. Major Accomplishments
7 Mamie Phipps ClarkIf you've read about Mamie Phipps Clark in your textbooks, her name was likely mentioned only in passing. This is unfortunate because Clark made many important contributions to psychology, including the development of the Clark Doll Test, her research on race, and her role in the famous 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case. Clark became the first Black woman to earn a degree from Columbia University. Despite considerable prejudice based on both her race and her sex, Clark went on to become an influential psychologist. Her research on racial identity and self-esteem help pave the way for future research on self-concept among minorities. Major Accomplishments
8 Christine Ladd-FranklinChristine Ladd-Franklin's role as a female leader in psychology began early in life, as both her mother and aunt were staunch supporters of women's rights. This early influence not only helped her succeed in her field despite considerable opposition, it also inspired her later work advocating for women's rights in academia. Ladd-Franklin had various interests including psychology, logic, mathematics, physics, and astronomy. She challenged one of the leading male psychologists of the day, Edward Titchener, for not allowing women into his group for experimentalists, and she developed an influential theory of color vision. She studied at John Hopkins and completed a dissertation titled "The Algebra of Logic". However, the school did not permit women to receive a Ph.D. at that time. She went on to spend time in Germany studying color vision with Hermann von Helmholtz and Arthur Konig. She eventually rejected Helmholtz's theory of color vision to develop her own. Finally, in 1926, nearly 44 years after completing her dissertation, John Hopkins awarded her the doctorate degree she had rightfully earned. Today, she is remembered for both her work in psychology and her influence as a pioneering woman in a field once dominated by men. Major Accomplishments
9 Margaret Floy WashburnMargaret Floy Washburn was the first woman to be awarded a PhD in psychology. She conducted her graduate studies with Edward B. Titchener and was his first graduate student. Like many women on this list, her work in psychology took place in a time when women were often denied positions in academia based on their gender. Despite this, she became a well-respected researcher, writer, and lecturer. Her primary research interests were in the areas of animal cognition and basic physiological processes. She strongly influenced comparative psychology and developed a motor theory of cognition suggesting that the body's movements had an influence on thought. Major Accomplishments
10 Eleanor MaccobyEleanor Maccoby's name is likely familiar to anyone who has ever studied developmental psychology. Her pioneering work in the psychology of sex differences played a major role in our current understanding of things such as socialization, biological influences on sex differences, and gender roles. She was the first woman to chair the psychology department at Stanford University and, by her own description, the first woman to ever deliver a lecture at Stanford wearing a pantsuit. She held a position as professor emeritus at Stanford and received numerous awards for her groundbreaking work. The Maccoby Book Award is named in her honor. Major Accomplishments
A Word From VerywellAs you can see, many women made important contributions to the early development of psychology as a science. While women once made up a minority in psychology, the tides have turned dramatically. According to a 2017 report, women make up more than half the members of the American Psychological Association, and 75% of psychology graduate students are women. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By Kendra Cherry
Thanks for your feedback! Who was the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology in 1925?Francis Sumner, PhD, is referred to as the “Father of Black Psychology” because he was the first African American to receive a PhD degree in psychology.
Who was the first woman to set up a psychological lab?The first experimental psychology lab established by a woman, for women students, was that founded at Wellesley College in 1891 by Mary Whiton Calkins -- a one-time student of James', and later to be the first Woman President of the APA.
Who was the 1st female president of the APA?Mary Whiton Calkins: 1905
Mary Whiton Calkins was the 14th president of APA and the first woman to serve in that office.
Who was the first woman to receive a psychology Ph D and also wrote a book The Animal Mind?For a woman of science in the 1900s, Margaret Washburn contributed a lot to the field of psychology. She wrote many publications including The Animal Mind. She was the first female to receive a PhD.
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